Shillong, April 28: The state government has called for patience from all citizens affected by the ongoing Shillong-Dawki road construction and asserted its commitment to complete the project by 2027.
The government, meanwhile, ordered round-the-clock monitoring and survey of sensitive stretches to prevent loss of lives from landslides and rockslides especially during the monsoon season.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, deputy chief minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong said, “From government side, let me again assure the public that.
“We would like to request all residents, who are directly affected, to please bear with us as we really want to complete this project at the earliest possible,” he said.
Referring to the stipulated timeline of 2027, he said, “I am very sure we will be able to complete the construction (by then).”
He mentioned about the challenges of rough terrain and frequent landslides on the stretch.
While on one side the scope of widening is very less, the other side is “more or less deep gorges”, he said.
Tynsong said the NHIDCL, State PWD, and district administration have been instructed to carry out safety measures all along the road.
Mentioning about frequent incidents of landslides, he said traffic has to be halted in an unpredictable manner due to landslips.
“The moment you clear here, sometimes it happened after a stretch of one or three kilometers. So this will keep happening,” he said noting that blasting vibrations make predictions difficult.
Tynsong urged residents to avoid non-essential travel on the road during the rainy season.
“I would like to request all residents of Pynursla up to Dawki to kindly avoid the unnecessary travelling from Dawki to Shillong or from Shillong to Dawki during this rainy season… also I think it is better if they travel during day time only,” he said.
Acknowledging the hardship, he said the project once complete would sharply cut travel time.
“You may have to suffer one year or one-and-a-half year from now, but remember once this project is completed it is a matter of 40-45 minutes you reaching Pynursla… within one hour or one hour fifteen minutes, you will reach Dawki or Tamabil. I am very sure that time people of those areas will be most benefited with completion of this project,” Tynsong said.
On ex-gratia for the two persons killed in the recent rockslide at Mawlieh, he said the government would consider the case as per rules and regulation of ex-gratia payment.
The Shillong-Dawki road has seen repeated closures due to landslides, including a closure of “more or less than one week” recently for public safety, Tynsong said.
‘Land almost finalised for High-Speed Corridor’
The proposed High-Speed Corridor between Silchar in Assam and Umiam will significantly boost economic activity in Meghalaya by increasing traffic flow through the state, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday.
Terming Meghalaya the “main transit state” in the region, he said, He said the expressway would drastically reduce travel time.
“When we mentioned about the express way you will understand that instead of travelling 3 hours, the distance is completely shortened so that itself you understand how many hours we save,” he said.
Apart from some portions in East Jaintia Hills, the land has been almost finalised for other portions in Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills district, he said.
Tenders have also been called for Package I and II of the project.
Terming it an economic corridor, Tynsong said, “Meghalaya is the main transit state, so ultimately the traffic flow will increase and the economic activities will also increase vehemently.”
The minister, however, ruled out the possibility of a six-lane expressway, saying the hilly topography of the state makes it quite challenging.
Tynsong said the four-laning of the Umiam-Shillong stretch has been entrusted to the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL).
“We have already entrusted to NHIDCL. We have taken a decision from the state government that we are going for four-laning from Umiam junction or Lad Umroi upto Shillong,” he said.
